PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
NO, MITCH. I SAID I’D MEET THEM, AND I DID. BUT WE’RE JUST GOING TO GET THEM KILLED, AND I’M NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.
(cont)
AMANDA, GET ON YOUR PHONE AND GET THAT AGENT BACK. THEY’RE GOING HOME. WE’LL FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT.
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
STAY HERE. WE’LL JUST BE A MOMENT.
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
SPOOKY, STOP.
AMANDA
HE’S NOT WRONG, MITCH.
PANEL 4
FLYBOY
HE’S NOT RIGHT, EITHER. IF WE LOSE, THEY DIE ANYWAY. OR WORSE.
(cont)
OR AM I NOT GETTING WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST?
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU GET IT FINE, BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN I HAVE TO BE THE ONE WHO FEEDS THEM TO THE MONSTERS!
(cont)
WE’LL REACH OUT TO EXSEC DIRECTLY. TELL THEM WHAT’S UP. ASK FOR THEIR HELP. JUST LIKE AMANDA WANTED.
PANEL 5
FLYBOY
EXCEPT YOU ALREADY EXPLAINED WHY IF WE DO THAT, WE STILL LOSE. AT LEAST WITH THESE GUYS WE HAVE A CHANCE!
AMANDA
MITCH, I HAVE TO SAY, I DON’T SEE IT.
(cont)
MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, THESE TWO ARE COMPETENT-ENOUGH HEROES. BUT THEY AREN’T EVEN PART OF THE YSDP. THEY WERE REJECTED, EVEN! AND RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, ZERO TRAINING-
PANEL 6
YOUNG KYLE
I HAVE TRAINING.
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
I KNOW. BUT I ALSO KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS.
YOUNG PAUL
HOW?
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
BECAUSE I KNOW BOTH OF YOU. BECAUSE WE’VE ACTUALLY ALREADY SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLE. TOGETHER.
(cont)
AND I KNOW THIS… BECAUSE I’M FROM THE FUTURE.
PANEL 3
YOUNG PAUL
YOU’RE SERIOUS. YOU MEAN, FROM THE FUTURE FUTURE…
CASSIDY
AND THIS ISN’T EVEN HALF AS WEIRD AS IT CAN GET.
(cont)
I’M TELLING YOU THIS JOB REALLY IS THE BEE’S KNEES!
PANEL 4
YOUNG KYLE
IS WHAT HE SAYS TRUE? IS HE REALLY, LIKE, A TIME TRAVELER OR SOMETHING?
TEEN SPOOKY
YES, HE IS. AND HE REALLY DOES THINK YOU CAN HELP US FIGHT THESE MONSTERS.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
AND IT’S ABSOLUTELY, 100 PERCENT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
IT WAS NICE TO MEET BOTH OF YOU. FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT EXSEC TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR POWERS — THEY DON’T KNOW HALF AS MUCH AS THEY PRETEND TO.
(cont)
I HOPE WE GET TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER AGAIN SOME DAY. SORRY FOR WASTING YOUR TIME.
FLYBOY
Spooky…
PANEL 1
YOUNG KYLE
RIGHT.
YOUNG PAUL
Uh, huh.
PANEL 2
SFX
SLURRRRP.
PANEL 3
CASSIDY
WELCOME TO REAL LIFE SUPERHEROES, BOYS!
(cont)
YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE MY BOSS, THOUGH. HE CAN BE A LITTLE DIRECT SOMETIMES.
PANEL 4
CASSIDY
SOME OF US FIND IT CHARMING.
PANEL 5
YOUNG PAUL
BUT I’M NOT A SUPERHERO.
(cont)
I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE HEARD, BUT EXSEC THINKS MY POWERS ARE GARBAGE. THEY TOLD ME I’D HURT AS MUCH AS I’D HELP.
FLYBOY
I KNOW WHAT THEY TOLD YOU. THEY’RE WRONG.
PANEL 6
YOUNG KYLE
Um, THEY SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT ME. AND I’VE…
(cont)
I MEAN, I HAVE HURT PEOPLE…
PANEL 1
YOUNG PAUL
Okaaay.
(cont)
SO, WHY ARE WE HERE? THEY SAID TO PACK FOR A FEW DAYS. IS THIS, LIKE, SOME KIND OF SPECIAL TRAINING OR SOMETHING?
PANEL 2
FLYBOY
NOT EXACTLY. I WISH WE HAD TIME TO SUGARCOAT THIS, BUT WE DON’T.
(cont)
WE BROUGHT YOU BOTH HERE… BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE THE WORLD.
YOUNG PAUL
HA!
PANEL 4
YOUNG PAUL
OH, WAIT. YOU ACTUALLY MEAN IT?
YOUNG KYLE
UM, YOU MEAN, LIKE… NOW?
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
YEAH. HE MEANS RIGHT NOW.
(cont)
HERE’S THE DEAL. WE’RE ON OUR OWN AND UP AGAINST A WHOLE BUNCH OF BLOODTHIRSTY MAGIC USERS AND A CRAZY POWERFUL DEMON.
(cont)
KING OF ALL DEMONS, ACTUALLY.
(cont)
IF WE DON’T STOP HIM IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THAT DEMON KING GOING TO DEFEAT ALL THE ARMIES OF EARTH, KILL BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, AND SEND THE ENTIRE PLANET TO HELL.
PANEL 6
TEEN SPOOKY
AND MITCH HERE THINKS YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT.
PANEL 1
YOUNG PAUL
SO, YOU’RE THE REASON EXSEC CALLED MY GRANDMOTHER YESTERDAY?
(cont)
WE WERE KINDA SURPRISED. I’M… NOT A MEMBER OF THE YSDP.
YOUNG KYLE
ME, NEITHER!
PANEL 2
YOUNG KYLE
I MEAN, I APPLIED TO THE YOUNG SUPERHERO DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(cont)
BUT I, um, GOT REJECTED.
PANEL 3
YOUNG PAUL
YOU, TOO, HUH?
YOUNG KYLE
YEAH. TWICE.
YOUNG PAUL
BRING IT IN, DUDE.
PANEL 5
AMANDA
ACTUALLY, YOU’RE HERE BECAUSE OF ME.
(cont)
MY MOTHER IS LIEUTENANT COLONEL ANNE CHARLEYBOY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EXSEC OPS. SHE MADE THIS HAPPEN.
PANEL 6
AMANDA
BECAUSE SHE TRUSTS ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
FLYBOY
WHICH WE ARE.
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
SO, um, HI. MY NAME’S MITCH. YOU’VE MET CASSIDY. THIS IS AMANDA. AND THIS IS SPOOKY. THANKS FOR COMING HERE.
YOUNG PAUL
HEY.
PANEL 2
YOUNG KYLE
Um, WAIT. YOU’RE NOT… SPOOKY JONES SPOOKY?
TEEN SPOOKY
YEP. THAT’S ME.
PANEL 3
YOUNG KYLE
OH, WOW.
YOUNG PAUL
YOU KNOW HIM?
PANEL 4
YOUNG KYLE
YEAH. I MEAN, HE’S ALL OVER THE TEEN SUPERHERO FAN FORUMS. AT LEAST THE PASSWORD-PROTECTED ONES.
(cont)
HE’S THE ONLY KID EXSEC LETS DO STUFF ON HIS OWN. HE’S GOT HIS OWN, LIKE, PRIVATE OFFICE WHERE ADULTS HIRE HIM AND STUFF. HE EVEN FIGHTS MAGIC USERS ALL BY HIMSELF… AND HE WINS!
YOUNG PAUL
OH! OK.
(cont)
COOL.
PANEL 5
CASSIDY
LOOK AT THAT, BOSS. YOU’RE INTERNET FAMOUS.
TEEN SPOOKY
NICE TO MEET YOU. KYLE, RIGHT?
YOUNG KYLE
YEAH. Um, NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
PANEL 6
YOUNG KYLE
WOW.
PANEL 1
AMANDA
Umm… YOU REALLY THINK MORE DEMONS IS WHAT WE NEED HERE, MITCH?
FLYBOY
HE’S NOT A DEMON. HE’S HUMAN.
(cont)
MORE OR LESS.
(cont)
AND AS BIG A HERO AS ANY OF US, IF NOT BIGGER.
PANEL 2
TEEN SPOOKY
THAT PART… COULD BE TRUE, AMANDA. RANK-AND-FILE DEMONS DON’T HAVE FREE WILL. THEY’RE KIND OF LIKE LOCKED AND EVIL COMPUTER PROGRAMS. THEY CAN’T CHANGE.
(cont)
BUT WHEN I WAS IN HELL I MET SOME HYBRID RACES, CREATED BY DEMON ROYALTY, THAT WERE A LOT MORE LIKE US. IT’S POSSIBLE LAAMPROS DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH THIS KID.
PANEL 3
AMANDA
AND YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY SURE HE WON’T MAKE THINGS WORSE, MITCH.
FLYBOY
I AM. BECAUSE, IN THE FUTURE… WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM OF SUPERHEROES.
(cont)
I’D TRUST EITHER OF THEM WITH MY LIFE.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
WOW. THE REVELATIONS JUST KEEP COMING.
(cont)
AND NOW WE’RE SUPPOSED TO ASK THEM TO TRUST US WITH THEIR LIVES.
PANEL 5
TEEN SPOOKY
RIGHT.
(cont)
WELL, WE BROUGHT THEM HERE. LEAST WE CAN DO IS SAY HELLO.
PANEL 1
AGENT
SIGN HERE. AND HERE. AND HERE.
PANEL 2
AGENT
ALL RIGHT, MS. CHARLEYBOY. FOR THE NEXT FORTY-EIGHT HOURS, YOU ARE COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIVES OF TWO OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.
(cont)
GOOD LUCK.
AMANDA
THANKS.
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU SAID THEY WERE YOUNGER, BUT THOSE ARE KIDS, MITCH. LITTLE, LITTLE KIDS.
PANEL 4
FLYBOY
THEY AREN’T… TONS YOUNGER THAN US. PAUL IS TWELVE YEARS OLD.
(cont)
KYLE IS THIRTEEN AND A HALF. OLDER THAN YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE SENT TO HELL.
TEEN SPOOKY
NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WISH FOR AN ADULT. AND NOT MAKING ME FEEL ANY BETTER ABOUT THIS.
PANEL 5
AMANDA
YOU REALLY THINK THEY CAN HELP?
FLYBOY
FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO? YEAH.
(cont)
PAUL HAS THE ABILITY TO, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, TWEAK REALITY. ACCESSING THAT POWER CAN BE A BIT, uh, ELABORATE, BUT NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GET, HE CAN TURN THE TIDE. AS FOR KYLE…
PANEL 6
FLYBOY
(turns to Spooky)
HE’S THE SON OF THE DEMON KING, LAAMPROS.
TEEN SPOOKY
HE’S THE HYBRID SIRCEA’S AFTER.
FLYBOY
YEAH.
PANEL 1
FLYBOY
I HAVE AN IDEA, BUT IT’S A TOTAL DESPERATION PLAY.
TEEN SPOOKY
YOU MEAN IT COULD MESS WITH THE TIMELINE?
PANEL 3
FLYBOY
WELL. I JUST BLEW UP THE SHARD THAT SET EVERYTHING IN MOTION GETTING ME TO THE PAST. SO, I SHOULDN’T BE HERE. BUT I AM.
(cont)
AND NOW THE KING OF ALL DEMONS IS ON EARTH AND ABLE TO CALL OVER HIS FRIENDS.
(cont)
AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT WASN’T THE CASE BEFORE I SHOWED UP. AND YOU SAID HE COULD LITERALLY END THE WORLD TOMORROW.
PANEL 4
FLYBOY
WE CAN’T KEEP DOING THIS WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND OUR BACKS. I THINK IT’S TIME I FINALLY LET GO OF TRYING TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME.
(cont)
AT LEAST AS FAR AS THIS FIGHT IS CONCERNED.
(cont)
WE NEED TO WIN. NO MATTER WHAT.
PANEL 5
AMANDA
WOW. OK. I NEVER THOUGHT I’D HEAR YOU SAY THAT.
(cont)
SO, HOW DESPERATE IS THIS PLAY?
FLYBOY
I KNOW A COUPLE GUYS WHO COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAYBE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
(cont)
AND I’M SURE AT LEAST ONE OF THEM WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP.
PANEL 6
FLYBOY
BUT NONE OF US ARE GOING TO LIKE IT.
PANEL 1
TEEN SPOOKY
I THINK SO. I KNOW WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST NOW. AND THE MAGIC HE’S TEACHING THOSE MINIONS IS VERY SPECIFIC. AT THIS POINT, I’M PRETTY SURE I’VE SEEN ENOUGH TO TRACK ITS SIGNATURE.
PANEL 2
AMANDA
RIGHT. SO, IS NOW THE TIME TO FINALLY BRING IN EXSEC?
(cont)
IF WE NEED EXTRA “RESOURCES,” THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTRAORDINARY SECURITY HAS IT. I BET THEY EVEN HAVE AGENTS WHO TRAIN EVERY DAY WITH SWORDS AND SHIELDS!
TEEN SPOOKY
THEY STILL CAN’T FIGHT MAGIC USERS. THEY’D HAVE LESS LUCK AGAINST DEMONS. EVEN WITH THE NEW WEAPONS WE HAVE, IT’S ONLY ONE SWORD AND ONE SHIELD — THEY’D HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WE WOULD.
PANEL 3
TEEN SPOOKY
BUT THE BIGGER DEAL IS, IF WE GET THEM INVOLVED, THEY’LL WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WHOLE THING. THEY WON’T LISTEN TO ME.
(cont)
THEY’LL SAY THEY WILL, BUT THEY WON’T.
(cont)
AND THAT’LL DEFINITELY MEAN WE’LL LOSE.
PANEL 4
TEEN SPOOKY
SIRCEA MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP, BUT WE BURNED THAT BRIDGE PRETTY THOROUGHLY.
(cont)
I WISH WE HAD A THIRD OPTION, BUT IF WE’RE NOT GOING TO USE MACGREGOR, I THINK WE’RE IT.
PANEL 5
FLYBOY
WELL… THAT’S NOT STRICTLY TRUE.